Zero for different state.

[OldElkHunter1961]

I live at 5300' and hunt from sea level to about 8500' routinely. At ranges under ~500 yards I see no practical or meaningful difference in trajectory/POI. Were I varmint hunting I might think differently.

 

[BrentM]

Don't run a chart. Get a good app and run current conditions at the location you hunt. Chart is for a back up only type deal. Confirm zero at your camp if you need too but generally zero doesn't change much, if any, even in extreme changes and short range. If you are concerned about a 200 yard then zero at 50 yards and set the app for it.

 

[chav0_12]

I agree. If I had to change my zero every time I gained or lost 2k feet of elevation I'd be changing it almost daily during hunting season. Don't worry about it, do confirm that Strelok is accurate at your ranges for your conditions. Don't trust it, but use it and correct it. I know that I've used StrelokPro before and it was off quite a bit, of course that could've all be bad data, I'm not 100% sure, I haven't fooled with it since I got my AB Kestrel.

 

[entropy]

I live in NC near sea level and hunt the Pine Ridge in NE. I sight it in in NC and kill em in NE. Don't overthink it.

 

[MOelkman]

You're within 1.1" at 500. I wouldn't worry too much about it. That being said, you should always shoot a couple to verify before your first hunt each season anyway... especially when traveling.
I am assuming you are paying a guide, etc. It would be a shame to take the time and $ to hunt there and blow a shot on a good animal because your scope was off.

Exactly!

 

[flyguy1]

I don't mean this as a slap on anyone, but funny how we went up and down mountains and killed stuff before we had ballistic calculators. And I tend to be a little over analytical in the off-season as well.

 

[birddog 68]

Totally agree flyguy1. I live at about 1000' and hunted at 9000' and after zeroing the rifle after arriving I was about 1" low at 200. If shooting true LR I would worry but after playing this game for a while I don't sweat it at my max range.

 

[LanceS4803]

I'll zero on site if possible but sometimes I don't bother. I make ballistic charts on site when I arrive with my kestrel and slap em on the rifles.

If a guided hunt, check with your guide on if you can do that.
I arrived in UT with my MZ and found out they didn't allow any sighters as they were too close to hunting area. They sent me to a rock quarry to check zero.

 

[Bdubose]

I always check zero before I hunt in the mountains for several reasons:
1. Traveling with weapons can result in damage to optics or mounts
2. Elevation and temperature changes can result in different POI
3. Knowing for sure the POI just before riding up the mountain helps stabilize the nut behind the rifle!

Just my humble opinion!

 

[manitou]

I don't mean this as a slap on anyone, but funny how we went up and down mountains and killed stuff before we had ballistic calculators. And I tend to be a little over analytical in the off-season as well.

Us guys over analyze everything. It is in our DNA. You ever read some of these guy's reloading procedures? Bows, guns, shop equipment, home renovations, tools... we can start a 168 page thread on: "What is the best tire pressure gauge?"
That being said, 20 years ago a long shot was 300 yards for a hunter. We have improved our technology and knowledge base (at least some have, lol).
It's a two-edged sword. We spend a lot of time and energy with critique, but if we weren't built this way we would still be throwing spears and living in a cave.

 

[sable tireur]

The best precaution when hunting out of state is to find an area to check your zero before leaving to hunt. I really don't care how much or how little your shooting App lists your ranges and compensation. Stuff happens and checking your zero allows you the confidence of shooting your game properly. Even if you are sent off to the rock quarry for the sight in.

As an aside to changing altitudes and hunting where the altitudes can change frequently, you might also refresh yourself on shooting uphill and downhill. I've watched in awe when a hunter shoots under or over a large animal when shooting up or down a hill (mountain). The area I elk hunt varies from 4,500 to 9,500 with almost no opportunities to shoot across meadows. Yes I do work with up and down shots. It makes a difference.

Enjoy!

 

[tooth doc]

Hello everyone,

I am trying to figure out my rifle/scope hunting setup for mule deer this year and my question is how do most of you sight in your rifle for a new place without actually going there to shoot? I live in Minnesota with an elevation of 1360 and will be hunting Pine Ridge, Nebraska with an elevation of 3241. I was thinking I would use the Strelok ballistic app because it let's me zero the rifle for Minnesota but then gives me a table for Nebraska when I enter their information.
When I compare the tables now it reads something like.....

200 yd. NE .34. MN 0
300yd. NE 2.71 MN 2.15
400yd. NE 5.46 MN 4.64
500yd. NE 8.53 MN 7.41 ....all in MOA

Would you guys just sight it in for Minnesota and then use the Nebraska table when it comes time? Or do I have to re-zero it in Nebraska?

that is exactly what i do. i have 3 sets of data for my 28 because off diff altitudes where i hunt in africa. i have my info for 2k, 4 k, 6k.

 

[BrentM]

The best precaution when hunting out of state is to find an area to check your zero before leaving to hunt. I really don't care how much or how little your shooting App lists your ranges and compensation. Stuff happens and checking your zero allows you the confidence of shooting your game properly. Even if you are sent off to the rock quarry for the sight in.

As an aside to changing altitudes and hunting where the altitudes can change frequently, you might also refresh yourself on shooting uphill and downhill. I've watched in awe when a hunter shoots under or over a large animal when shooting up or down a hill (mountain). The area I elk hunt varies from 4,500 to 9,500 with almost no opportunities to shoot across meadows. Yes I do work with up and down shots. It makes a difference.

Enjoy!

I think his concern wasn't about scope bump etc but about the zero changing due to location. Worth checking zero due to travel but area/state won't change anything worth noting. Angle compensation is easy to account for with an app or lrf with ballistics but those using charts frequently forget to compensate and often don't even know how. Doing math in your head under strain has to be practiced so it's a good food thought you've thrown out there.

 

[Hugnot]

Elevation differences of 1000 to 3000 are no big trajectory deal at 500 but what matters a tiny bit more is the actual barometric pressure and that also is no big trajectory deal. Looking at the entire spectrum elevation, pressure. temp & humidity (damp air is nice) at 500 would be no big deal with a zippy velocity bullet. Sight your rifle in during a warm east coast muggy day then go to the arid western mountain October-November hunt and the trajectory difference of less than 1 inch would be far less than up-down group variations. Like mentioned a 1 click (.25 MOA) would work out nicely.

More important is shooting up or down hill - like is common in the western states. A cosine table works real good. Some rangfinders can provide firing solutions. Trajectory differences due to moderate inclination variations can cause a miss of up to a foot or more. Use Google Earth to get some idea of terrain, like how far up or down might a shot be.

Rocket scientists would agonize over enviromental conditions should the target be a golf ball at 1,093.6 yards.